Block wall safety screen

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a screen used to block a drainage hole in a wall from the passage of unwanted pets. Specifically, the present invention includes a frame a screen and a clamping portion to secure the screen in place with friction and tension.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates to screens which block rodents, snakes and otherwildlife. Specifically, this disclosure relates to screens for drainageholes in concrete block walls.

2. Background Art

Block wall construction is common in many areas as a privacy fence forresidential and commercial properties. When a block wall is built, acommon method of facilitating drainage of water from the area is toplace some of the blocks on their side at ground level so that water mayflow through the openings in the blocks. This method allows drainage ofwater, but also allows creatures small enough to pass through the holesto enter the area enclosed by the block wall fence. These creaturesinclude snakes, rodents, and insects. As this method of privacy fenceconstruction is common in the desert, scorpions also may enter anenclosed area through the drainage holes. The enclosed area may also beused to keep pets, and some pets may be small enough to escape throughthe drainage holes.

One way to prevent larger rodents and snakes from entering, and somepets for exiting an area enclosed by block wall fencing is to placerocks in front of the holes. This method has drawbacks, as rocks areheavy to move and place and some animals are able to move the rocksenough to get through the drainage holes. Also the rocks partially blockthe ability of water to drain, and in some cases may prevent properdrainage. The rocks may not prevent snakes and other creatures fromentering the enclosed area. Further if the block wall is also aretaining wall, then the high side of the wall the drainage hole may beat ground level, and on the lower side of the wall the drainage hole maybe above ground level. It may not be practical to pile rocks high enoughto cover the drainage hole on the lower side, as it may defeat thepurpose of the retaining wall. Also a person desiring to block the holefrom creatures may not have the property rights necessary to pile rockson the high side.

Another method of blocking the drainage hole is by use of a screen.Screens have been employed in combination with rocks to hold them inplace. They have also been employed using anchors mounted in the blockwall to hold a screen in place. There are some advantages in usingscreens over rocks, such as increased water flow and superior protectionagainst snakes and scorpions. When using a screen with rocks, however,the screen may be moved by animals, and the rocks may be moved byerosion, or by animals, providing a gap through which creatures maypass. When a screen is used with anchors, the anchors must be installedin the block wall without damaging the wall. The anchors may become loseover time if installed in the mortar between the blocks. With eithermethod using screens it may be necessary to cut the screens to theproper size, which is a time consuming and difficult process. Theprocess of installing the anchors in a wall may also be difficult andtime consuming.

There exists a need for a screen which is quickly and easily installedto block a drainage hole in a block wall from the passage of animals andcreatures, and which can remain in place despite the forces of erosion,and despite the attempts of animals to move them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The blocks in a block wall often have two holes, and when a block isturned on its side for drainage purposes there are two holes fordrainage, with a center part of the concrete block between the twoholes. In an embodiment of the invention a screen for a drainage holemay have a frame which clamps, or holds using tension, a screen in placein a drainage hole. The screen frame may clamp around the center part ofthe concrete block, the frame providing support for a screen blockingthe two holes from the passage of creatures. This embodiment of theinvention may be installed quickly, by simply pushing the frame aroundthe center portion of the block. The frame may hold tightly to thecenter part, preventing any creature from pushing the screen and gainingaccess through the drainage hole. Installation of the embodiment of theinvention may be done without the need for tools, making the processquick and easy.

In some cases a block wall is built with a drainage block which only hasone hole. In an embodiment of the invention, a screen may have a framewhich is inserted partway into the hole, which contacts multiple partsof the inside of the drainage hole to provide tension. This embodimentmay also be installed without the use of tools, by pushing the screeninto the drainage hole. The screen is held in place by tension andfriction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a block wall showing a drainage block.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of a safety screen for adrainage block.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of a safety screen for a drainageblock

FIG. 4 is a front view of a block wall showing an embodiment of a safetyscreen installed in a drainage block.

FIG. 5 is a cut away top view of a block wall, cut along the line A fromFIG. 1, showing an embodiment of a safety screen installed in a drainageblock.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a block wall showing a drainage block with asinge hole.

FIG. 7 is a cut away top view of a block wall, cut along the line B fromFIG. 6, showing an embodiment of a safety screen installed on both sidesof a drainage block.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

When a block wall is constructed, standard size blocks are often used.Drainage holes of various shapes and sizes may be included in the wall.The drainage holes are usually a standard size hole. The presentinvention allows the drainage holes to be substantially covered with ascreen to prevent most unwanted creatures from passing through thedrainage holes. The screens may be held in place with tension andfriction as they contact the drainage hole.

FIG. 1 shows a block wall with drainage holes formed from a double holedrainage block 2. The block in this example is a standard cinderblockturned on the side to allow drainage. As shown turned on the side, theblock shows a center part 4, side surfaces 6, bottom surfaces 14, andtop surfaces 18. The block wall also includes wall blocks 8, and mortar10.

An example embodiment of a safety screen 20, designed for the standardsize of a double hole drainage block 2 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thesafety screen has a frame 22, including a clamping portion 24. The framesupports screen material 26 which can prevent creatures from passingthrough the drainage block. The frame may be made from a variety ofmaterials including, but not limited to metal, and plastic. The framemay provide a claming portion as shown in the example embodiment inFIGS. 4 and 5, where the flexing of the frame material in the clampingportion 24 creates tension when the safety screen is installed. Thescreen material may also be made from materials including but notlimited to metal, plastic, wood, natural fibers, and synthetic fibers,carbon fibers, or any other know screen material. The safety screen 20may have a clamping portion which is not incorporated into the frame butis connected to the frame, and may include springs and other partscommon in clamping mechanisms. The clamping may also create a tensiononly on part of the center part 4 of the draining block 2.

The safety screen 20 may be installed as shown in FIG. 4 by pressing onthe center of the frame 22 so that the clamping portion fits around thecenter portion. The screen 26 and frame 22 may be formed to closely fitthe inside of the drainage holes. The frame may make contact with theside surfaces 6, the bottom surfaces 14, and the top surfaces 18, butthe frame may also be formed and installed so that the only contact withthe draining block 2 is at the clamping portion 24. The frame 22 mayprovide sufficient support to the screen 26 so that if the only contactwith draining block 2 is at the clamping portion 24, the frame canprevent small animals from moving the screen and passing through thedrainage block.

The safety screen 20 of the present example is shown in FIG. 5 installedon one side of the drainage block 2. The safety screen 20 may beinstalled on both sides of the drainage hole, which may prevent animalsfrom nesting in the drainage block, and may prevent other material fromentering the drainage block and constricting water flow.

Safety screens may be made to fit the size of many drainage holesincluding holes which are not double holes with a center part. FIG. 7shows a top view of an embodiment of a single hole safety frame 30,which is inserted into a drainage block. The safety screen 30 has aframe 32 including tension legs 34. The tension legs 34 press againstthe side parts 16 of the single hole drainage block. The tension legsmay press against a top or bottom part instead of, or in addition to theside parts 16. The frame 32 supports a screen which allows water to passthrough the drainage hole while preventing creatures from passing. Thesafety screen 30 is shown installed in both sides of the drainage block,but it may be installed in only one side of the drainage block. Thesafety screen 30 shown may be used to fit into the two drainage holesshown in FIG. 1.

In an example safety screen the frame and the screen are formed frommetal and may be installed by pushing on the frame to force it to enterthe drainage hole. The safety screen may be installed by using a hammerto quickly force the safety screen into place. The safety screen may beassembled by forming a frame to the approximate size of the drainagehole. The frame may incorporate a clamping or a tension part to hold thesafety screen in place with tension, or a clamping or tension part maybe added to the frame. A screen which is capable of preventing creaturesfrom passing may be connected to the frame. The safety screen may thenbe installed to prevent creatures from passing through the drainagehole.

The safety screen is shown in the Figures with a frame and screen whichis smaller than the drainage hole. The safety screen may also be madewith a frame and screen which are larger than the drainage hole andwhich are held against the surface of the drainage block by tension andfriction as parts of the safety screen contact the surfaces of thedrainage block.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear inillustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to thoseskilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement,proportions, and methods, the elements, materials, and components usedin the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularlyadapted to specific environments and operative requirements withoutdeparting from those principles. The appended claims are intended tocover and embrace any and all such modifications, within the limits onlyof the true spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A safety screen for a drainage hole formed by the steps comprising:Forming a frame having a similar size to the size of a drainage hole,the frame having a tension part such that the tension part can contactthe interior of the drainage hole with force; and connecting a screen tothe frame.
 2. A safety screen for a drainage hole according to claim 1,further including the step of attaching the tension part to the frame.3. A safety screen for a drainage hole according to claim 1, where theframe is made from metal.
 4. A safety screen for a drainage holeaccording to claim 1, where the frame is made from plastic.
 5. A safetyscreen for a drainage hole comprising: a screen having a similar size tothe size of a drainage hole, a tension part connected to the screen, thetension part being capable of applying a force against the drainage holeto hold the screen in a stationary position.
 6. A safety screen for adrainage hole according to claim 5 further comprising a frame, where theframe is connected to the screen.
 7. A safety screen for a drainage holeaccording to claim 5 further comprising a frame, where the frame isconnected to the tension part.
 8. A safety screen for a drainage holeaccording to claim 7 where the frame is made from metal.
 9. A safetyscreen for a drainage hole according to claim 7 where the frame is madefrom plastic material.
 10. A safety screen for a drainage hole accordingto claim 7 where the screen is made from metal.
 11. A safety screen fora drainage hole according to claim 7 where the screen is made fromplastic material.
 12. A method of blocking a drainage hole in a wallfrom the passage of creatures comprising: forming a safety screen to asimilar size of the drainage hole, the safety screen having a frame, ascreen, and a tension part, with the frame securing the screen and thetension part; inserting the safety screen into the drainage hole so thatthe tension part contacts the drainage hole and holds the safety screenin place.